in thy
semblance. Thou didst fall on us like a storm wind of the desert, when
Thou wert not expected, where Thou wert not expected, and as a bull
breaks a reed so didst Thou crush thy blinded opponent. All people then
understood that even the terrible regiments of Libya had value only
while thy hand sent them forward."

"Thou speakest wisely, Musawasa," said the viceroy, "and Thou hast done
still better to meet thus the army of the divine pharaoh, instead of
waiting till it came to thee. But I should be glad to know how sincere
thy obedience is."

"Let thy countenance be radiant, great potentate of Egypt," [An
inscription on the monument of Horem-Hep, 1470 years B. c.] answered
Musawasa. "We come to thee as subjects, may thy name be great in Libya,
be Thou our sun, as Thou art the sun of nine nations. Only command thy
subordinates to be just to us the conquered people who are joined to
thy power. Let thy officials govern us justly and with conscience, and
not according to their own evil wishes, reporting falsely concerning
our people, and rousing thy disfavor against us and our children.
Command them, O viceroy of the victorious pharaoh, to govern according
to thy will, sparing our freedom, our property, our language, and the
customs of our ancestors and fathers.

"Let thy laws be equal for all subjects, let not thy officials favor
some too much and be too harsh toward others; let their sentences be of
the same kind for all. Let them collect the tribute predestined for thy
needs and for thy use, but let them not take secretly other tributes
which never go into thy treasury, and enrich only thy servants and the
servants of those servants.

"Command them to govern without injustice to us and our children, for
Thou art to us a deity and a ruler forever. Imitate the sun, which
sends his light to all and gives life and strength to them. We, thy
Libyan subjects, implore thy favor and fall on our faces before thee, O
heir of the great and mighty pharaoh."

So spoke the crafty Libyan prince, Musawasa, and after he had finished
speaking he prostrated himself again. But when the pharaoh's heir heard
these wise words his eyes glittered, and his nostrils dilated like
those of a young stallion which after good feeding runs to a field
where mares are at pasture.

"Rise, Musawasa, and listen to what I tell thee. Thy fate and that of
thy people depend not on me, but on that gracious lord who towers above
us all, as the sky abov